James Pickford celebrates his 26th birthday on Saturday and the SEAT Sport UK driver hopes that this will bring him good luck as he contests Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the 2005 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this weekend at Thruxton.

The last time James raced at the Hampshire track was in the final round of the 2003 Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship. He ended that race in a hedge, having been forced onto the grass exiting the Complex. This time the Macclesfield driver will be aiming to keep his Toledo Cupra firmly on the asphalt, as he returns to Britain’s fastest BTCC circuit in one of the fastest cars he’s ever raced.

What a difference a year makes: twelve months ago SEAT Sport UK recorded an unexpected win at Thruxton in only the team’s second BTCC race. At the time it was more than race-winner Jason Plato dare dream of, but this time nothing less than another victory will please the 37-year old former Champion. The expectations have certainly risen, yet the challenge remains just as tough, and Jason knows that a repeat win will be very difficult to achieve.

Like his team-mates, Luke Hines loves the ultra-fast Thruxton circuit and has gone well there in the past. Since Donington, the 22-year old Essex driver has attended several fund-raising events in London, helping to raise money for the SOS Children’s Charity and, like Hell’s Kitchen chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, Luke will be wearing the green World Orphan Week wristband during this coming race weekend. Luke celebrates his birthday next Wednesday (May 4th).

Jason said: “Thruxton was the scene of great things last year and we’ve got to hope we can come up the goods there again. The Toledo Cupra has a fantastic chassis, which last year worked well through the twisty Complex and through the Chicane, so I’m hoping for more of the same. We need to perform well in the areas where we were lacking at Donington and we’re still likely to struggle out on the fastest parts of the circuit. Qualifying will be important, as we’ll be going flat-out for pole position and it will be interesting to see where we end up. Thruxton always produces great racing and I’m sure this weekend will be the same.”

James said: “Its eighteen months since I’ve raced at Thruxton and I’ll be trying to keep all four wheels off the grass this time! In the Cupra Championship I qualified on pole for one race and second for the other, and then finished second behind Rob Huff in the first race, so I know Thruxton well and I’m looking forward to returning this weekend in a car which has more power and grip. I learned a lot in my first British Touring Car race weekend at Donington and I’m a lot more comfortable in the Toledo Cupra, so I’m going to Thruxton with a lot more confidence.”

Luke said: “I like racing at Thruxton because it’s so mega fast. Last year I qualified behind Jason and finished the third race behind him too, and I was quite pleased about that because it was my first outing in a top-line touring car. I’m still learning about the Toledo Cupra, and I’m confident enough to give it a real go at Thruxton and see what happens.”